See Sept. 30, 5:15am above for more info. Then do a google search.
Easy and inexpensive pond...
Question!!! Why would you want to use the more expensive rubber roofing material,,, if you know the cheaper black plastic works, except for dog toenails? Just to improve or be different.. Not complaining, just curious.
Judy
Black plastic sheeting is not strong enough. Easy to puncture and/or tear.
John
As I wrote above, "it's been 6 years minimum and we've only had to replace the liner once (last year after 5 years of using it), because a couple of the Bullies decided to get a close look at the fish. lol lol" At the time we only had 2 layers of black plastic and it took several Bullies scrambling in and out several times for a toenail to finally cause a leak. Actually it was in need of a good cleaning by this time anyway!! Prior it had not needed cleaning because the fish were not so big and I would just do an sharp spray from the water hose, overspill cleaning. (did not know better and killed the Koi a friend gave me that way, but the goldfish are tough so they survived.)
I am of the opinion that with just goldfish you don't need the fancy filter, etc. if you have floater plants, a few potted plants and water run off is not a problem... that is unless the goldfish are really big and have overgrown the pond which ours have NOW.
The idea is great and works well for those who just want a pond that is Cheap & Easy. 5 years with 2 layers of construction grade black plastic (our local feed store will cut it to size) and several dogs taking dips is marvelous!!! We have totally enjoyed this small pool and it was truly Cheap & Easy!!
Judy
Judy, what is "construction grade black plastic?" How many mil?
John
What about a water bed mattress?
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/490247/ here is a very good thread that has been started on that subject and others. Please add more ideas you have on it so everyone can see them.
EVERYONE NEEDS A POND, SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW IT YET!!!
Judy, see my comment 2 posts above your last one.
imway2dumb - Hon, I really don't recall or I would have already posted the information.
I'll have to go way out to the barn and look on the box if we didn't use it all, but the wind here is just too strong right now for me to get out.
Since you are so eager, I think the most expedient thing for you to do is just go to or call Home Depot, they have it there. It's just your basic black plastic used for many applications; in building, around the house, or farm. Many people use it to kill grass, wrap up things to keep the rain out.... you know that kind of thing, nothing special just construction grade black plastic sheeting.
This message was edited Mar 11, 2005 2:42 PM
Ok, gotcha. ;-) I'll get cheapest toughest stuff I can find and give it a whirl.
imway2dumb - Did you do it? Start a thread and post pictures!!!
It is a work in progress, Judy. I will start a new thread soon showing my version of trois' "Making Rocks" thread. Which will include my version of a water feature. I will be sticking my neck out, though. If I blow it everyone will know. Be gentle if I do blow it, LOL. I really don't know what I'm doing.
John
None of us do, so you are not alone!!!
Judy
I will start posting right after the 23rd. (the eagle flies then). Have to get more cement first.
John
Sweet and lovable Judy was cleaning out the pond today. She was raking out some of the debris that accumulated over the winter-- leaves, twigs, etc. with her hand. And she had the hose going to flush out some of the scum and fish do-do. "Look, Big Daddy! It's a snake!' (Actually, just the snake head...) and off she runs to get the camera. Three years ago, she would have run for the hoe but I think I have explained the Eco system enough times that she's given up and tries to co-exist with her nemesis. A year ago, 'Blackie', a female Black Rat Snake looked large enough to have babies and I think that the swimmer must be one of hers. Judy used the hose to 'flush' the snake and he wiggled under the porch to safety.
Message from Judy @#$$@#$@%#%@#%
Last year Blackie's name was changed to Slim Jim Tucker and Bob was suppose to have taken him off, but instead put him out behind the barn. Earlier this year a man who was helping do some yard work discovered Slim Jim under a pile of boards, obviously "with snakies".
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/463875/ here is the rest of the story on Slim Jim Tucker
This message was edited May 8, 2005 2:22 PM
Black Jack was found sunning himself in the gravel driveway about 6 feet from the back porch..... but Bob was the one he startled this time so maybe, he'll relocate him far away this time. I've promised to use my hoe if I see him again. Bob attempted to hold him between a leaf rake and a shovel to take him away this mornign, but he got away and is now back under the house.
How do you catch a snake???
Judy
We still love our little Gold fish pool
Judy;
I like the idea and the inexpenciveness, of your pond. It looks neat. Now I will have to put in another pond, just for goldies and because I like the design.
I have the rubber roofing in two of my ponds. which are right at nine years old. I have some of the same koi I started with. They don't seem to have had any problem with the RRL. I bought the roofing material at a roofing supply store. It's cost is about 1/2 that of pond liner. I had a choice of either 45mil or 60mil. at the time I was afraid of deer geting in the pond, so I went with 60. But let me tell you that is "heavy"and hard to handle. There is right at 10cents difference per square foot in the price.
I think Lowes handles both the pond liner and the 45mil RRL. I haven't checked for the difference there. But the price that the nursery wanted for pond liner would have stopped me from puting in a pond.
Sending two pics R
And one more at feeding time
Your pond is beautiful!!! I've been hinting to DH that I want raised planters built with the same design including the black plastic but with holes punched in the bottom for drainage.
A snake got in the pool and ate all really large goldfish, so we will be restocking next spring.
Judy
Sorry I just scroled back. Bigdaddys pond construction. I like the design. And just an after thought, I didn't have very good luck with water hyacinth this year either. I think the water falls kept the water a little cool for them to grow great guns, as a friend in the same area has a much smaller falls and her water was warmer and her hyacinth were healthy and were blooming profusely. Her pond is not as large as mine,about 6' diameter and 3' deep. Mine is 3&1/2' deep and 12' wide and 25' long. So the biggest difference that I could determin was the water fall cooling the water more than hers. ??????? R
I've had people to tell me their hyacinth weren't doing well, not blooming etc. If you keep your pond too clean then you eliminate all the fish poo which is the best fertilizer for them.
Judy
Thanks for that info; but I really don't think that was the problem, I won't discount it though. My water was rather green untill I put in the hyacenth, and lettuce, then it started to clear up. But both the lettuce, and Hyacinth started turning yellow and the W/H were getting smaller and the leaves and pods were rotting and dieing off . Two years ago they done great. but then it was much warmer that summer too. I'm not certian on the temp thing. but this is zone 4b. It's a little late this year, but next year I will try a couple experiments. With a heater, then with less water flow. It was early fall before the water cleared up enough to see the bottom clearly. That thought does hold creadence tho as all plants need nourishment, of one kind or another. I will have to be patient till next spring tho. as the fish have all just kind of went to the deepest part and are just laying low. as the temp today didn't get up to 40 till this eve. Tomorrow will be a little warmer, but not enough to cause them to come out of dormacy. I really apriciate your help in this. I would like to have hyacinths bloom every year.
One thing I did different this year is I had four EEs in the pond. they would help take more of the fish poo out of the water???? who knows?
Two years ago I had such an abundance of water hyacinth I shoveld them out of the pond by the bushel basket load and composted them. Last year in the koi pond they were stunted and yellow leaved with very a small root mass while a couple I had tucked into a smaller gold fish pond did just fine. I attributed it to the nine koi which have grown, as they do, to the 18 to 24 inch size. I think the koi reached a size where they eat the roots so fast the hyacinth can't get a start. This year I tried a couple plants again and they were totaly destroyed in less than a week. I would watch the koi tow them around the pond. I had to wire tie plastic garden fencing with 1 in. holes over the tops of the lotus tub to keep the koi from totally rooting out the tuber. The lotus did fine once I did that. It grew easily up through the holes in the plastic fence. If you've got big koi you've got plant eaters. I was blaming our resident racoon for overturning small water lilly pots in the shallow end until I saw a koi knock it over and tug/drag the plant to the bottom. What a mess that was! I built a loose river rock dam around the pots on the ledge and so far the koi havn't found a way over the rocks. They are a rowdy bunch!
Thank you so much for the explanation!!! I bet that is what happened to randbponder's plants.
Judy
Updated picture of the Goldfish Pool..... replaced the black plastic liner last year becuse I punched holes in it trying to slam-dunk and flip out a snake.
Judy
Judy; I needed a good laugh. I invisioned you out there, beating up on the plants and that snake. I hope you won!
I have a leak in my one pond. If I pump the water up to it I loose a lot of water. so right now the 2 ponds are seperate. Hope I can find the time soon to take care of it. Still putting in garden right now. and with mowing 4 different yards, two of them are an acre each, it's pushing me.
Happy water gardening!
lol lol My DH is a relocator, but that sucker had eaten all my goldfish and hissed at me, time to take him on.... A week or so later a day worker came to help with some chores, Mr Snake was back. He said "you want to kill" I said "Yes" louder than DH said "No". Away went the snake and the liner was replaced.
Judy
And Mr. snake will hiss no more.
I haven't seen anything bigger than a gardener snake around my pond. But if I catch them, they normaly go to the back of the lot. as they do eat a few nasty bugs. But if I suspect that this his second or third time in my pond. He is history too. I don't really think he would be there to catch boatman beatles or dizzy bugs.
We named our resident Garter snake Harold. I don't consider him to be a problem.
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/resources/reptiles/egart.htm
Add a pair of mallards and it's wildlife central - the snake up on a rock sunning himself and the ducks paddling around the pond. Sometimes I change my chore list so I don't go out there and distrub them. It's neat. I kept snakes as pets as a kid so they don't bother me. Been bitten a few times. Copperheads and Water Moccaisons are another story though. Not sure how I would handle that. Wildlife has to be somewhere, but risking your life is not an option.
Well they arn't a real problem unless you are trying to build up the number of babies, to get more adult koi. That is after a two legged snake stole about half what you had. including one that was a 24 incher. I just hope he is happy with himself.
I'LL look at that site after I send this . Happy ponding.
A thief caught and stole your koi? How on earth? I can't catch mine when I absolutely have to! Did you look around at any independantly owned pond stores to see if yours showed up? Ask around if anybody just built a new pond? Boy would I ever be mad as heck. I think I would be posting a few wanted posters. People would talk if they saw a "LOST KOI" poster. If it wasn't for the 24 incher you could suspect a heron. But, it would take an eagle to haul off one that large. Sheesh. That's worse than the idiot who steals Christmas decorations every year from my yard and others. Easier to replace those than grown koi. I can't get over it, your fish I mean. That takes the cake.
It happened. I'm still upset. and the worse part is - - - I am fairly sure of who the culpret is. I am waiteing my chance to say some thing. I want him to ask me something about the pond or the fish. Then let him know how hurt I was. and how much of a low down scoundrel it must have been. to do something like that. I know that if I were to replace them size for size from a fish farm, it would exceed $2000.00
Snap I didn't really want to open that wound. but I did, and talking about it does help knowing that some do care.
Oh, Russ - how awful!! Just saw your post about your koi, and I feel for you - not only are they expensive, but you do get attached to them - I can't believe someone would repay your wonderful kindness in such a way - so sorry. My pets (that you gave me) are healthy and happy here - and have grown about 4 inches from last year - if there's anything I can do, just let me know - Bec
Becki; Your kind thoughts and friendship, are sufficiant. Every one on DG are wounderful people at heart.
Hmmmmm maybe I should invite him to join DG?????
A little more kindness wouldn't hurt.
So sorry to hear about your fish! If you are pretty certain who it is (and they do not know that you know) could you invite them over to help you look for them and "accidentally" knock them in the pond and at least partially drown them?? You could even help them to climb out and then again "accidentally" slip a little and drop them in again.......
Tetleytuna;
((*-*)) I like your idea.
But it does have its down side. I think if I catch him off guard, and he says something, anything at all, about my pond or my fish. Then let him know what I think about theives. The point may get accross. and make him a better person in the process.